UAE DISMISSES ISLAMIST WEB SITE WARNING

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003264 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX, DS/IP/NEA, DS/ICI/PII, DS/IP/ITA, AND CA/OCS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL KPAO MCAP TC SUBJECT: UAE DISMISSES ISLAMIST WEB SITE WARNING REF: NCIS BAHRAIN IIR 5399011905 ¶1. An Islamist Web site features a statement warning the UAE to expel non-Muslims and Westerners within 10 days or risk attack. The statement, which appears to be a copy of a March 2005 statement posted on another Islamist Web site, was posted on the Al Sakifah Web site on July 19 by an unidentified individual and quoted in Bloomberg News July 24. Al Sakifah carries statements attributed to Al Qaeda in Iraq. ¶2. The threat message, entitled "Opening a new Jihad front in the UAE," criticizes the UAE for letting US naval vessels dock at Jebel Ali port near Dubai and permitting shore leave for the crew of aircraft carriers USS Kittyhawk, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Harry S Truman. The Web statement calls for the removal of the U.S. Ambassador to the UAE. "If you refuse to do this, we ask God to settle the matter or we will settle it with our own hands." In addition, the statement criticizes the UAE for training Iraqi police (although it does not specify that the training was conducted by the German Federal Police at UAE police facilities); warns the UAEG not to allow churches and temples to be built in the UAE and on the Arabian Peninsula; calls on the UAE to close liquor stores and night clubs; and warns that UAE leaders would be punished by God for allowing Muslims to leave prayers during the Dubai Shopping Festival. ¶3. The statement was originally posted on March 18 on the Islamist Web site "Tajdeed" that belongs to extremist Saudi dissident Mohammed Al Masaari, according to a UAEG source quoted in the "Gulf News" July 25. The "Tajdeed" Web site had requested that the message be spread to other forums. Responding to questions from Bloomberg News, Embassy PAO said that "all threats are taken seriously." ¶4. A source from the UAEG reacted to the statement by telling "Gulf News" that the UAE's "preventive measures are there to ensure security and stability," and adding that "such baseless statements are only meant to confuse authorities. They are absurd and have no value." ¶5. Septel to report RSO actions in view of subject warning and general threat profile based on recent events in the region. SISON